Building A Repertoire With Phenom

“From my experience, the best way to promote yourself as an artist is through personal connections. Before you ask a stranger to check out your music, you should get to know them a little. Introduce yourself. Build a personal connection. Music is intimate. It’s all about feelings and emotions, so when you have a personal connection with someone they’re more willing to listen to what you have to say.”

Check out the interview with Phenom exclusively on Skilly Magazine Online.

Skilly: Tell us where this all began. What is your history in the music scene?Phenom: I got into music when I was 13. I learned how to produce beats from a guy my older sister was dating at the time. Soon after that I was producing for artists around my neighborhood, then I began writing songs myself. Once I turned 21 I decided to make things official and I filed the paperwork to start my own company, So Phenomenal Entertainment.

What are the best ways to promote yourself as an artist? Any tips you can give us?
From my experience, the best way to promote yourself as an artist is through personal connections. Before you ask a stranger to check out your music, you should get to know them a little. Introduce yourself. Build a personal connection. Music is intimate. It’s all about feelings and emotions, so when you have a personal connection with someone they’re more willing to listen to what you have to say.

What do you ultimately want to become in your career?
Ultimately I would like to become a mogul. I love being an artist, but I also love business. As CEO of my own company I’m able to touch so many more people, from signing and developing talent to bringing awareness to charities and really making an impact and leaving a legacy.

What is the hardest thing about being in the music business?
I think the hardest thing about being in the music business is the vulnerability. There are a lot of shady people in the music industry, every move you make is a risk. Taking a risk with something you love is the hardest.

What is it like in your city? What is the music scene like, and how is it like living there overall?
I’m from the birthplace of hip hop, the Bronx, New York. The culture is strong over here. Living in New York, it’s like everyone knows someone that’s either in the music business or trying to get into it. It’s a great place to network. Even though there are a lot of artists out here, the underground scene is kind of like a family. People are very supportive of other artists.

What are some of advice you can give and share to other artists who are still trying to come up?
The best advice I can give to any up and coming artist is to just be you. Through my time in the music business I’ve experimented a lot with my sound, but once I decided to just be myself is when things really started to take off. Needing a persona as an artist isn’t really necessary. Be True. Be You. Be So Phenomenal.

What is the best thing that’s ever happened in your career?
The best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career was running into a fan of my music while getting off the train and having them show me my music on their phone and wanting to take a picture with me. She was telling me how one of my songs helped her get through a struggle in her life and it really made me feel like I had a purpose. It was a phenomenal feeling.

What is your inspiration?
I know this is going to sound cliché, but my inspiration is my everyday life. I’m always inspired to progress. I was never one to settle. My music is heavily inspired by my own experiences. Every song I’ve done relates to my real life.

Do you feel anyone can be successful now in today’s world of music?
It depends on the way you define success. I define success as being happy. Just because you’re making money doesn’t mean you’re happy. I believe if you do the music you want to do and don’t just try and follow trends then yes, anyone can be successful.

Where can we find you on social media?
Official Website: www.phenomspe.com
Facebook: @ phenomspe
Twitter: @PhenomSPE
Instagram: @PhenomSPE
YouTube: @theofficialphenom